Monday, October 25, 2010

French Inspired Home Book Giveaway!


The French Inspired Home by Carolyn Westbrook
Do you remember me waiting to get this fabulous book in the mail?
Take a peek at the images...

Well now I have a special treat to offer my followers!
Cico Books has offered to give a copy to one of my followers! 
Yes, this gorgeous book on French decor!
They saw me raving about it after reading a review on Cote De Texas.
Joni was right~the book does not disappoint 
and it is loaded with breathtaking pictures.
I wish author Carolyn Westbrook was my sister so I could hang
 out at her house and travel with her to the Paris flea markets.
This gorgeous kitchen with my favorite purple transferware 
makes my heart skip a beat.
Beadboard, painted cabinets with glass doors and the mix of an
 iron chandelier and farmhouse fixtures all in one glorious space! 
 I am obsessed with soaking up all of the frenchy images.
 Cico Books has even more to say about my latest obsession:

Designer and decorator Carolyn Westbrooks love affair with all that is French inspired began long before she ever travelled to France. Growing up in the US, her Southern heritage was infused by French influences from the chic elegance of New Orleans to the romance of southern plantation houses. Here, Carolyn brings you her first-hand knowledge, acquired through years of combing French flea markets for unique treasures, of what makes a beautiful French interior. Immerse yourself in her own beautiful plantation house, a sleek urban apartment or a classically elegant town house. Each home featured has its own distinctive style, but all are essentially French in their inspiration, whether it comes from a distressed gilded mirror, or a faded rug that exudes age in just the right places. Carolyn Westbrook prides herself on these French-inspired interiors that are classic and timeless but never stuffy. The French have mastered the art of this time-worn yet sophisticated style of living, and you too will fall in love with the colours, the textures and the inspiration that is truly French.


Here are my giveaway rules:


1. The give-away will end on November 9.




2. To enter the give-away, you must become a follower of my blog Maison Decor, 
and leave a comment~ thats it!

3. Leave me a comment on why you would like this book with your email or personal website link stating that you've become a follower on any blog post through November 9th.

4. If you're already a follower, just leave me a comment with email or personal website link and let me know that you're already a fan for automatic entry.

5.  You get one entry in the contest for following/commenting. You get an extra entry if you write about the giveaway on your blog or tweet about it!   Just be sure to let me know that you did either for the extra entry.

6. If winner is unreachable after seven days, s/he forfeits the prize to second place, so make sure I can get ahold of you! 

For this and other great decorating books go to www.Cicobooks.com , or follow them on twitter like I do @cicobooks.

The French Inspired Home
Author Carolyn Westbrook
Publisher Cico Books
Price $29.95

Sunday, October 24, 2010

Natural interior design ideas :: Queensland rainforest

I went on this amazing photography course at the weekend with a company called BlueDog based at Mount Tamborine in the Gold Coast Hinterland. If you are like me and wish to feel more confident in using your own photographs in your blog I would highly recommend these guys or a similar course. The course was a gift from my dear friends Dirk and Lisa. Thank you so much guys, it was a beautiful gift.

With all of my interior design projects I tend to use my camera quite often to either record the current site or room conditions, for shopping trips for furniture and finishes or for interior design ideas and design inspiration.
ifdesign
These leaves were gathered on a rainforest walk in the Sunshine Coast hinterland prior to me working on the interior design for a rainforest retreat in Queensland. When you think of a rainforest colour you normally think of the colour green. As you can see from these leaves there are many more colours to be found in a rainforest.

I used these colours and textures to help build up a mood board to communicate the inspiration and interior design ideas below.
This project is currently under construction and I look forward to sharing the final photos with you later.

I would love to know where you find your inspiration and interior design ideas from. Have fun.